Saturday, the 30th day of August 2019. Around 5 pm.
My cousin ran up the flight of stairs to his apartment. Feeling a bit uneasy, he went to the balcony for some fresh breeze. Within seconds, his heart seized, he slumped and drop dead. He was 31. The uncertainty of life.
This young man had spent his last day running errands for his mom and sisters. Part of the day job was to get everything ready for his child’s birthday party. He did his bit, the cakes were ready, the food all stalked up ready for the next day party. Invitations had gone out weeks before the day he died.
Between Life and Death
In the uncertainty of this world, he worked tirelessly preparing for the day he wouldn’t witness. He left his mum, a year old daughter and his siblings. As expected, the party never came to be, but his unplanned burial did.
The Cold Dark End
On the 23 of October 2019. In the early hours of the morning, 39 people were found dead in a refrigerated lorry trailer in an industrial estate very close to where I live. Among these were 31 men and 8 women. These were people with dreams and hopes. To read more about this, check out this link https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/23/driver-arrested-after-39-bodies-found-in-lorry-container-in-essex
Each of these people had left loved ones in search of life’s uncertainty. Some of these people sold their properties to qualify for the journey which was to become their end. Amongst them were mothers, sisters, fathers, husbands, brothers with a vision of bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Stories were told of the pain and emptiness left behind. The promise of the beautiful future was aborted in the darkness of the lorry.
I have heard other news about other occurrences. Of people who contributed their quota before bidding farewell to the world. People with the heart of gold.
Living with Uncertainty
Sometimes, I wonder if life is really worth planning for when death is inevitable. Of course, I know part of inevitability of death is the uncertainty of it. It often strikes when least expected. Like a dark cloud hovering above.
“Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death”. Prophet Muhammed (SWW)
Despite the abruptness of life, it is important to live, to plan and execute plans. It is necessary to view the future and work towards making something out it. It is necessary to make an impact.
Live (not just exist) until the last breath escape.